Roll film processor and processing method

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING A LENGTH OF FILM CONTAINED IN A MAGAZINE WHILE ONE END OF THE FILM IS RETAINED IN THE MAGAZINE IN WHICH THE FILM IS THREADED FROM THE MAGAZINE ONTO A TAKEUP REEL, THE FILM EXTENDING BETWEEN THE MAGAZINE AND THE TAKEUP REEL IS MOVED TO A LOOP PATH THROUGH A FILM PROCESSOR AND THE FILM IS PROCESSED AND REWOUND INTO THE MAGAZINE.

United States Patent inventor Paul J. Good Springwater, N.Y.

Appl. No. 762,774

Filed Sept. 26, 1968 Patented June 28, 1971 Assignee Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company St. Paul, Minn.

ROLL FILM PROCESSOR AND PROCESSING METHOD 11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 95/94, 95/90.5 Int. Cl 603d 3/00, 603d 3/16 Field of Search 95/89, 94, 90.5, 90

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,25l,052 12/1917 Kroedel 95/90.5 1,275,753 8/1918 Robertson 95/90.5 1,860,059 5/1932 Smith 95/94 3,096,701 7/1963 Edwards 95/94 Primary Examiner -John M. Horan Assistant Examiner-Robert P. Greiner AttorneyKinney, Alexander, Sell, Steldt and Delahunt ABSTRACT: Apparatus and method for processing a length of film contained in a magazine while one end of the film is retained in the magazine in which the film is threaded from the magazine onto a takeup reel, the film extending between the magazine and the takeup reel is moved to a loop path through a film processor and the film is processed and rewound into the magazine.

PATENTEUJUN28|9H -3}587.428

- sum 1 OF 4 A TORNE vs PATENTEuJunza I97! SHEET 2 UF 4 WG N QMW/A m PATENIEDJuuzmsn SHEEI u 0F 4 I N VliN '1 UR. PAUL 1]. C000 BY MMAQOGM ATTORNEYS ROLL FILM PROCESSOR AND PROCESSING METHOD This invention relates to an improved film processor for processing a length of photographic film contained in a magazine and a novel method of handling the film.

The processing of an exposed length of photographic film to produce visible images is well known in the art. The prior known film processors have not afforded processing of a strip of film connected to a reel and rewinding the film without physical separation of the film from the reel. Film processors have generally required that the film be removed from its container prior to or during processing and have necessitated the use of a darkroom in which the film could be handled prior to processing. In addition, experienced operators are normally required to thread the film on the processing apparatus, control its movements therethrough, and replace it in its original container. For these reasons film processing has generally been performed in central specialized laboratories to which the film is sent or delivered. This has, however, been unsatisfactory since a delay of several days may result while the film is in transit and waiting to be processed. Further, when it is desired to maintain information contained on a film secret it may be highly undesirable to have the processing performed by a central laboratory.

Processing film and then returning the film to the storage magazine is particularly difficult when the film is to be chemically processed since the chemicals on the guides, rollers or plates can contact the film and damage the developed film.

The preferred embodiment of an automatic film processor constructed as illustrated and described herein can take film from a film magazine, process it, and rewind it into the film magazine without drawing the once processed film back through the processor station.

It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a film processor in which a length of film contained in a magazine may be processed without completely removing the film from the magazine. This permits the magazine to be labeled during filming and since the film can be processed without-separating from the magazine the chance of loss or mislabeling is greatly reduced.

The apparatus illustrated is adapted for processing a length of film contained in a magazine and comprises means for supporting a film magazine, a processor comprising a plurality of solution tanks, and means for moving the film through the solution tanks to process the same without removing the inner end of the film from the magazine.

The novel method of processing exposed film connected to and wound in a magazine, comprises the steps of threading the film through a film processor, processing the film by moving the film through the processor and subjecting the moving film to the processing treatment, and returning the film to the magazine.

The novel features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after reading the following description which refers to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a film processor made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevational view of the film processor with the cabinet removed and illustrating a step in the operation of the processor;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the device;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic elevational views illustrating operation of the processor through steps successive to that of FIG. 2.

A film processor constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally designated 10, is illustrated in FIG. 1 and comprises a lighttight cabinet I36, approximately 4 feet long, 1.5 feet deep and 2 feet high, having a magazine holder 12 accessible through a door 18, an on-off switch 137,

a lighted six frame instruction panel 138, a drain pan access door 139 and easily accessible processor supply reservoirs, for example, developer 80, fix 82 and wash water 84 supply bottles. The cabinet 136 may be set on a table, desk or workbench 140 so that the instruction panel 138 can be easily read when the operator is standing.

The magazine holder 12 is adapted to receive a film magazine 14 containing exposed film 16 connected to the hub of a rotatable film reel 28 by a trailer 33 and having its free end connected to one end of a leader 34. The door 18 is opened to insert a magazine I4 and is then closed to prevent light from striking the film 16 during processing. The magazine is formed with an exit opening 29 through which the film will pass and this opening 29 is aligned with a large opening 19 in one end of the magazine holder 12 through which the film 16 may pass from the magazine 14 into the processor. Centrally of the holder 12 is a'rewind shaft 15 driven by a constant speed processing motor 35 through a belt 13 on pulleys 17, 21 and 23. On the rewind shaft 15 within the magazine holder 12 is a slip-clutched circular member 25 which drivingly engages the hub of the reel 28 of a magazine 14 inserted into the holder 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the magazine holder 12 also has protrusions 20 and 22 for properly locating a magazine 14 in the holder 12.

The magazine 14 which may be used with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention has recesses 24 and 26 corresponding to the holder protrusions 20 and 22 so that the magazine 14 can only be inserted in the holder 12 properly. When properly inserted, the rotatable film supporting reel 28 within the magazine 14 is positioned to rotate in the clockwise direction about a horizontal axis, as viewed in FIG. 4, when a film I6 is pulled from the reel 28 through the magazine exit opening 29. The magazine reel 28 fits in a cylindrical space in the magazine 14 and has a circular hub and flanges extending radially from the ends of the hub so that film 16 is wound around the hub between the flanges. The end of the film I6 nearest the reel hub is secured to one end of the trailer 33 which may be inches long and is of the same width as the film with the trailing end of the trailer 33 being secured to the reel hub. Fixed to the free end of the film 16 is the leader 34 which is relatively stiff and normally straight and may be 90 inches long with a trailing end having the same width as the film and the major portion having a width greater than the spacing between the reel flanges to be wound on the peripheries of the reel flanges when the film and leader is wound in the magazine 14.

A threading or transfer drive wheel 30, preferably of a rubberlike material, is mounted on a horizontal shaft 31 for movement from its normal rest position 30a to its drive position 30b. The drive shaft 31 is mounted at one end of a-pivoted arm which is actuated by a solenoid for movement of the transfer drive wheel 30 (neither the pivoted arm nor the actuating solenoid is shown) from rest position 30a to the drive position 30b. In its rest position a portion of the transfer drive wheel 30 lies in an aperture 32 of the magazine holder 12. As viewed in FIG. 4, the transfer drive wheel 30 moves through an opening 36 in the magazine 14 which exposes a portion of the rear reel flange to frictionally engage, in its drive position 30b, the leader 34 to drive it and the reel 28 in an unwinding direction. When the transfer drive wheel 30 is in drive position 30b, it is driven by a transfer motor 11 through a belt 38 on pulleys 40, 41 and 62 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4.

The wheel 30 pushes the relatively stiff and normally straight leader 34 in the direction to cause its free end to be guided out of the magazine film exit 19 and to enter the processor along a generally straight line path tangent to the transfer drive wheel 30, across a looper or poker trolley 44 toward a self-threading storage spool or takeup reel 56 which grasps and winds the free end of the leader thereon.

A dryer loop guide roller 42 is mounted for free rotation about its horizontal axis on the looper or poker trolley 44 (to be more fully described) below the magazine holder 12. The dryer loop idler roller 42 is normally positioned with its periphery generally tangent to and extending across the straight line path along which leader 34 leaves magazine 14 and its axis on the opposite side of that path from the axis of the transfer drive wheel 30.

A first guide bar 46 extends horizontally from looper trolley 44 across the width of loop roller 42 and vertically across the diameter of loop roller 42. It is spaced from loop roller 42 so that the straight line leader path from the magazine 14 intersects it generally midway of its vertical length. This causes the leader 34 pushed from the magazine 14 to be diverted between the loop roller 42 and the guide bar 46 to a vertical path. To further aid in diverting a leader 34 into a vertical path the lower end of guide bar 46 is slightly curved toward loop roller 42.

A solution loop idler roller 48 is mounted for free rotation about its horizontal axis on looper trolley 44 directly below the dryer loop roller 42. A second guide bar 50 extends horizontally from looper trolley 44 across the width of loop roller 48 and vertically across the diameter of loop roller 48 directly below first guide bar 46. To assure that the leader 34 will be guided between solution loop roller 48 and second guide bar 50 the upper end of guide bar 50 is slightly curved away from the loop roller 48.

Immediately below and on the same side of the vertical leader path as guide bar 46 is positioned a stationary idler roller 52 with its periphery in line with guide bars 46 and 50. On the opposite side of the leader path from stationary idler roller 52 is positioned a stationary guide bar 54 which extends horizontally across the leader path and vertically across the diameter of stationary idler roller 52.

The self-threading storage spool or takeup reel 56 is comprised of spaced parallel reel flanges positioned on opposite sides of a stationary film guide 55 which introduces the free end of the leader between the reel flanges as it is introduced through a leader opening 58 in guide 55 immediately below stationary guide bar 54 and stationary idler roller 52 in line with the leader path between them. At least one flange of the takeup reel 56 is spring-biased relative to the other reel flange such that the reel 56 will grasp and automatically wind the leader 34 pushed through opening 58 onto a hub 60 of the reel. The reel 56 is driven by a shaft 57 of the transfer motor 11 at a speed greater than the speed of the leader 34 to move the free end of the leader radially inward onto the hub 60. Thus, as viewed in FIG. 4, the hub 60 is driven clockwise directly by transfer motor 35 at the same time transfer drive wheel 30 is being driven counterclockwise. The drive shaft 57 also has a brake (not shown) associated with it which restricts free rotation of the reel 56 to place tension in film as it is pulled from the hub 60 during processing as will be hereinafter described.

At some point along the leader path, preferably adjacent magazine holder 12, a sensing switch (not shown) is provided which senses when a predetermined length of the leader 34 has been wound on the hub 60 of the takeup reel 56 and which simultaneously releases the transfer drive wheel solenoid to return the roller 30 to its normal rest position 30a. This sensing switch may be in the form ofa spring-leafmicroswitch actuated by a notch in the leader 34 or a photocell actuated by a hole in the leader 34. The same sensing switch or a second sensing switch positioned along the leader path is used to detect a notch or hole in the trailer 33 and simultaneously to turn off transfer motor 11 when the leader 34 and film 16 have been removed from the magazine and wound on the takeup reel 56 with an end of the film secured by the trailer 33 to the hub of reel 28 in the magazine 14.

In the present embodiment, the processor station comprises a rectangular solution tank 64 divided into three main compartments 66, 68 and 70 for chemical developer, fixing and wash solutions respectively. It is not meant by the illustration of this embodiment to limit the present invention to chemical developing and other types of film development processes with appropriate processing stations may be used depending on the type of film used.

The rectangular solution tank 64 illustrated is, for example, 36 inches long, 3 inches deep and 2 inches wide and has a hinged cover 72. The tank 64 is spaced from and on the same side of the leader guide path as the guide bars 46 and 50 on the looper or poker trolley 44 and on the side of the leader guide and film path opposite the poker or loop rollers 42 and 48 of the trolley 44. The cover 72 has a longitudinal groove 74 in its lower surface of a width to guide the leader and film above the solution tank 64 over the solution compartments 66, 68 and 70. When the cover 72 is closed it lies above the body of tank 64 with the width of groove 74 extending across the vertical leader guide path and the horizontal surface defining groove 74 lying in a plane generally tangent to the lower periphery of solution loop idler roller 48. Each main compartment 66, 68 and 70 of the solution tank 64 has a solution inlet 76 through which fresh solution is metered by conduits (not shown) from the respective supply bottles 80, 82 and84 and an overflow outlet 86 to drain off used solution.

An impeller shaft 88 is rotatably mounted centrally of the solution tank 64 and runs the entire length thereof. Impeller blades 90 extend radially from the impeller shaft 88 into solution in the main solution compartments 66, 68 and 70. At the left end of the solution tank 64 is mounted an impeller motor 92 connected to impeller shaft 88 by a belt 94 for rotation of the impeller blades 90 to splash solution against a film moving over the main compartments 66, 68 and 70.

Between the developer compartment 66 and the fix compartment 68 and between the fix compartment 68 and the wash compartment 70 the solution tank 64 is provided with small divider compartments 67 and 69. These compartments collect excess solution which drips from the film as it moves over successive compartments to prevent intermixing of the solutions. Solution is discharged from the divider compartments 67 and 69 through outlets 96. A drain pan (not shown) is positioned below the solution tank 64 to catch and retain solution discharged from the main compartments 66, 68 and 70 and the divider compartments 67 and 69.

A hollow cylindrical drying chamber 98, 36 inches long and having a 3 inch diameter, is positioned parallel to the solution tank 64 with its axis tangent to the upper periphery of first loop guide roller 42. The drying chamber 98 is formed of two equal semicylindrical sections 100 and 102 hinged along the same side of the drying chamberas the solution tank cover 72 is hinged along the solution tank 64. The upper section 100 is stationary while the lower section 102 is connected to the solution tank cover 72 by a mechanical linkage 103 which opens and closes the covers. The drying chamber 98 is also provided with suitable heating elements (not shown) to afford a drying atmosphere for the processed film as it is moved through the chamber.

Looper trolley 44 has a generally T-shaped frame with the aforementioned loop idler rollers 42 and 48 rotatably mounted on shafts which extend horizontally on the same side of the frame at opposite ends of the vertical portion thereof. The guide bars 46 and 50 extend from the same side of the frame and are spaced from their corresponding loop idler rollers 42 and 48. Extending from the opposite side of the T- shaped frame from the loop rollers 42 and 48 and guide bars are shafts on which pulleys 104, 106 and 108 are rotatably mounted, one at each end of the horizontal portion of the T and one on the vertical portion thereof. Pulleys 104 and 106 have their axes spaced apart on the horizontal portion of the T and ride on the upper edge of a horizontal rectangular crosssectioned track while pulley 108 on the vertical portion of the T rides on the lower edge of the track 110 to stabilize and hold the frame on the track.

A chain belt 112, driven by a motor 114 runs along track 110 and engages the looper trolley 44 to move it along the track 110. Two pins 116 and 118 extend horizontally from track 110 across the path of the vertical portion of looper trolley 44. These pins 116 and 118 are spaced from the right end of the track 110, as viewed in FIG. 4, to stop the looper trolley 44 after it has moved past the ends of the solution tank and drying chamber and before it reaches the end of the track 1 l0.

A pair of opposed air nozzles 132 and 134 having horizontal slits are normally positioned near the right end of track 110 as viewed in FIG. 4 to have their slits extend one on each side across a film path between loop idler rollers 42 and 48 when the looper trolley is moved against pins 116 and 118. Air nozzle 134 to the right of this path is mounted generally midway of the path on the track 110 while the air nozzle 132 to the right of the path is mounted for movement out of the looper trolley path by a linkage (not shown) at the same time linkage 103 opens the solution tank cover 72 and the lower section 102 of the drying chamber 98.

A idler pressure roller 122 is rotatably mounted on a bar 124 to normally position the roller 122 horizontally across the leader-path on the opposite side of that path from film drive roller 120. The bar 124 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 126 adjacent the film drive roller 120. A compression spring 128 attached to and pushing against the upper end of the bar 124 tends to rotate the bar 124 about its shaft 126 to force the pressure roller 122against the film drive roller 120 thereby to form a constant speed film drive from roller 120. The lower -end of bar 124 extends beyond the pressure roller 122 to engage a pin 130 extending horizontally from the same side of looper trolley frame as dryer loop idler roller 42 between pulley 104 and loop idler roller 42. The combination of pin 130 and bar 124 causes the bar 124 to rotate clockwise as the looper trolley moves to the left as viewed in FIG. 4. Rotation of the bar 124 is limited, however, by the lower right edge of the magazine holder 12 which contacts the bar below pressure roller 122. The limitation of the clockwise rotation of the bar provides a positive limitation on the movement of the looper trolley 44 to the left to properly position the loop idler rollers 42 and 48 with respect to the magazine holder 12.

In use, the operator pushes the on-off switch 137 to the on position and with suitable electrical circuitry the first photo transparent frame of instruction panel 138 is illuminated. The text contained on the first frame instructs the operator to open magazine holder door 18, insert a magazine 14 and close the door 18. When this has been done properly, an interlock switch darkens the first frame and the second frame becomes illuminated. The operator is instructed to check the contents of the developer bottle 80, fix bottle 82 and replace any empty containers. When this has been done, the second frame is darkened and the third frame becomes illuminated instructing the operator to remove, fill and reinsert the water bottle 84. After the full water bottle 84 has been inserted, the third frame is darkened and the fourth frame is illuminated. The fourth frame informs the operator that the film in the magazine is ready to be automatically processed.

When the processor is in ready condition, a programmer is energized and the processing steps begin. The first step is to drive the leader from the magazine and thread it into the processor through the guides defining the path to the takeup reel. Then winding the leader and film on the takeup reel thereby removing all the film from the magazine but not separating the two. The film is then threaded through the processor station, rewound in the magazine and processed by subjecting the film to treatment by the impinging processing solutions and heat during rewinding. This is accomplished by the actuating solenoid for transfer drive wheel 30 being energized to move the wheel 30 from its rest position 300 through opening 36in the magazine 14 to its drive position 30b where it frictionally engages leader 34. Transfer motor 11 is started to rotate transfer drive wheel 30 counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 4, through belt 38 on pulleys 40, 41 and 62. Rotation of transfer drive wheel 30 pushes leader 34 in the direction to cause unwinding of the reel 28. Since the takeup reel hub 60 is on transfer motor drive shaft 57, it rotates clockwise, as viewed in H6. 4, at the same time transfer drive wheel 30 rotates counterclockwise.

The leader 34 is pushed around the cylindrical internal surface of magazine 14 until its free end passes transfer drive wheel 30. Because it is relatively stiff and normally straight, the free end of leader 34 then leaves the magazine and magazine holder through openings 29 and 19 respectively, and

is threaded along the leader path defined by the first guide bar 46, dryer loop idler roller 42, solution loop idler roller 48,

second guide bar 50, and between stationary guide bar 54 and stationary idler roller 52 down through the leader opening 58 5 in the self-threading takeup reel 56. The path of the film at this point is schematically shown in FIG. 2.

When approximately inches of leader 34 has been pushed from the magazine 14, its free end is grasped and wound on the rotating hub 60 of the self-threading takeup reel 56. At this point a switch (previously described but not shown) is actuated to release the above-mentioned transfer drive wheel actuating solenoid. This causes the transfer drive wheel 30 to move to its normal position 30a out of engagement with the magazine reel 28. The remainder of the leader 34, the film 16, and a majority of the trailer 33 are then rapidly transferred to the takeup reel 56 by continued rotation of hub 60. Shortly before the entire trailer 33 has been pulled from the magazine 14, a sensing switch (previously described but not shown) is actuated to stop transfer motor 11 with the trailing end of trailer 33 secured to the hub of magazine reel 28.

The solution tank cover 72 and the lower section 102 of the drying chamber 98 and the air nozzle 132 nearest the looper trolley 44 are now moved by their control linkage out of the path of the looper trolley 44 permitting it to move along its track 110. This operation is designated as opening the looper trolley path.

lmmediately after the looper path has been opened, the looper trolley 44 is moved along track 110 by motor 114 through chain belt 112. As the looper trolley is moved along track 110, the pin 130 thereon moves away from the capstan idler bar 124 thereby permitting the spring 128 to rotate the bar 124 and to urge the pressure roller 122 into contact with the film drive roller 120. The looper trolley 44 is moved along the track 110 until its vertical portion contacts the pins 116 and 118 extending from the track 110. The motor 114 then stalls to keep the looper trolley 44 against the pins 116 and 118. Since the trailer 33, extending from the magazine 14 to the takeup reel 56, is captive by. the idler rollers 42 and 48 of the looper trolley 44, the trailer 33 is pulled from the takeup reel 56 which is thereby caused to rotate counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 4. The film path at this point is schematically shown in FIG. 7 with trailer 33 extending from the takeup reel 56 to the magazine 14 through the processor station.

When the looper trolley has been stopped against the pins 116 and 118, the looper trolley path is closed by the linkage 103 swinging the solution tank cover 72, and the lower section 102 of the drying chamber 98 closed and by the linkage (not shown) swinging the air nozzle 132 back to its operating position. Simultaneously, as the looper path is being closed, the processing motor 35 is started to rotate the processing drive wheel 120 directly and the slip-clutched rewind hub through belt 13 over pulleys 17, 21 and 23. The pressure roller 122 is urged against the film drive wheel 120 to determine the velocity of the film through the solution tank 64 and drying chamber 98 of the processor station. The slip-clutched rewind hub 25 rewinds film into the magazine 14 without influencing the velocity of the film through the solution tank 64 and drying chamber 98. The processing motor 35 is started at the same time the looper path is being closed to assure that the after-leader 33 will be taut between the stationary idler roller 52 and the second loop idler roller 48 so that it will align with the groove 74 in the solution tank cover 72 as the cover closes. The brake on the takeup reel hub 60 maintains tension in the film to further assure proper alignment.

Immediately after the looper path is closed, the impeller motor 92 starts, solution is metered from the developer 80, fix 82, and wash 84 bottles into their respective solution tank compartments 66, 68 and 70 through inlets 76. Air is forced through air nozzles 132 and 134, and the heating element (not shown) in drying chamber 98 is turned on. By this time the end of the film 16 secured to the trailer 33 is leaving the takeup reel 56.

As the processing motor 35 continues to drive the processing drive wheel 120, the film progresses over stationary idler roller 52 and through groove 74 in the solution tank cover 72. As it passes over the successive developer, fix and wash water compartments 66, 68 and 70, the impeller 90 picks up solution from the bottom of the compartments and causes it to impinge against the exposed developable face of the film at a high velocity. Between adjacent compartments excess solution drips from the film into the divider compartments 67 and 69 thereby preventing intermixing of the solutions. After leaving the solution tank 64, the film 16 moves over solution loop idler roller 48 and between air nozzles 132 and 134 where excess wash solution is removed from the film by high velocity jets of air. The film then passes over dryer loop idler roller 42 and through the drying chamber 98 in which the film is dried to complete the processing. The processed film then moves through the capstan drive and back into its magazine 14. The path of the film when approximately one-half of its length has been processed is schematically shown in FIG. 8.

Film continues to be moved by film drive roller 120 until its entire length has been processed and leader 34 extends from the takeup reel 56 to the processing drive roller 120. At this point a sensing switch actuated by the leader 34 stops the impeller motor 92 and solution is no longer metered into the compartments 66, 68 and 70. The leader 34 then continues to be moved until it is completely rewound into the magazine 14 at which time the processing motor 35 stops. While the leader 34 is being rewound, the chemicals remaining in solution tank compartments 66 and 68 are drained and wash water is diverted into them, cleaning the compartments to prevent oxidation and chemical encrustation which would otherwise occur between machine usages or cycles. All liquids are finally drained from the compartments 66, 68 and 70 into the drain pan (not shown) below the solution tank 64.

After the solution tank 64 has been washed and drained, the looper trolley path is again opened, the looper motor 114 reverses and the looper trolley 44 is moved back to its original position. As it nears its original position, the pin 130 extending from the looper trolley 44 engages the lower end of bar 124 which rotates until it contacts the lower edge of the magazine holder 12. .At this point the pressure roller 122 has been moved to its original position spaced from the film drive wheel 120 and the looper trolley is in its original position and is prevented from further movement by the bar 124.

When the looper trolley has returned to its original position, the looper motor 114 stops, the fourth frame of instruction panel 138 is darkened and the fifth frame is illuminated directing the operator to remove the fully processed magazine. When this has been done, the fifth frame darkens and the sixth frame is illuminated. The sixth frame instructs the operator to open drain pan door 139 and to remove, empty and replace the drain pan. When the empty drain pan has been replaced, the sixth frame darkens and the first frame is again illuminated. The processor is then ready for another processing cycle.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for processing a length of exposed film contained in a film magazine, comprising:

means for supporting a film magazine;

a processing station;

a takeup reel;

means defining a film threading path from said magazine to said takeup reel;

means for moving film from a magazine in said magazine supporting means along said film threading path and onto said takeup reel while one end of the film is retained in the magazine;

means movable across said film threading path to establish a film loop path from said magazine supporting means to said takeup reel through said processing station; and means for rewinding the film into the film magazine.

2. Apparatus for processing a length of film contained in a film magazine comprising:

means for supporting a film magazine;

a takeup reel;

means defining a film threading path from said magazine supporting means to said takeup reel;

means for moving film from a magazine in said magazine supporting means along said film threading path and onto said takeup reel while one end of the film is retained in the magazine;

a plurality of solution tanks disposed in a line onone side of and generally perpendicular to said film threading path;

a solution loop idler roller rotatably and movably mounted in line with said solution tanks with its periphery adjacent the side of said film threading path opposite said solution tanks; and

means for moving said solution loop idler roller through said solution tanks to establish a film loop path from said magazine supporting means to said takeup reel through said solution tanks.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said takeup reel is self-threading and said means for moving film from a magazine comprises:

a driven roller movably mounted adjacent said magazine supporting means;

means for moving said driven roller into engagement with film in a magazine in said magazine supporting means to push film out of said magazine along said film threading path and onto said self-threading takeup reel; and

means driving said takeup reel to transfer film from a magazine in said magazine supporting means onto said takeup reel while one end of the film remains in the path;

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 including:

an elongated drying chamber spaced from and on the same side of said threading path as said solution tanks with its longitudinal centerline generally perpendicular to said film threading path,

a dryer loop idler roller rotatably and movably mounted in line with the longitudinal centerline of said drying chamber with its periphery adjacent to said film threading path on the side of said threading path opposite said drying chamber; and

means for moving said dryer loop idler roller through said drying chamber to establish a film loop path from said magazine supporting means to said takeup reel through said solution tanks and said drying chamber.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said drying chamber is disposed nearer said magazine supporting means than said line of solution tanks and said means for moving a film from a magazine rapidly transfers a majority of the film in a said magazine to said takeup reel before said solution guide roller or said dryer loop idler roller is moved and including means for rewinding film into a said magazine at a predetermined linear velocity after said solution loop idler roller is moved through said solution tanks and said dryer loop idler roller is moved through said drying chamber, whereby a length of film may be processed as it is rewound into a said magazine.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 5 including means creating air jets on both sides of the film loop path between said solution loop idler roller and said dryer loop idler roller after said rollers have been moved through said solution tanks and said drying chamber, said air jets causing excess solution to be removed from a film leaving said solution tanks before it enters said drying chamber.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said line of solution tanks and said drying chamber have hinged covers which when opened permit the respective loop idler rollers to be moved therethrough and including:

means for opening said covers before said solution loop idler roller or said dryer loop idler roller is moved;

means for closing said covers after said solution loop idler roller has been moved through said solution tanks and said dryer loop idler roller has been moved through said drying chamber;

means for impelling solution in said solution tanks against the developable imaged face of a film in the film loop path through said tanks.

8. A method of processing a length of exposed film wound on a reel which is rotatably disposed within a film magazine while an end of the film secured to the reel is retained in the magazine, which comprises the consecutive steps of:

unwinding a majority of the film from the reel;

guiding the unwound film out of the magazine along a threading path to a self-threading takeup reel;

winding the guided film onto the takeup reel;

moving the film extending between the magazine and the takeup reel to a loop path through a film processor; rewinding the film onto the reel in the film magazine; and processing the film as it moves through the film processor during said rewinding step.

9. Apparatus for processing a length of exposed film having an outer end and an inner end contained in a film magazine comprising:

means for holding a said film magazine;

a plurality of tank means for holding processing solutions;

a takeup reel;

means defining a film threading path from said magazine holding means past said tank means to said takeup reel;

means for moving the outer end of a length of film from a magazine in said magazine holding means along said film threading path and onto said takeup reel while the inner end of the film is retained in the magazine;

poker means disposed on a side of said film threading path opposite said tank means;

means for moving said poker means across said film threading path to place a portion of the film in said tank means after the film is started on said takeup reel; and

means for rewinding the film back into the magazine prior to the removal of its inner end from the magazine.

10. Apparatus for processing a length of exposed film having an outer end and an inner end contained in a film magazine comprising:

means for holding a said film magazine;

a plurality of tank means for holding processing solutions;

means for drawing a portion of the film out of the magazine and through said solution tanks while its inner end remains within the magazine;

a drying chamber;

a poker disposed opposite said dryer chamber for enabling the movement of film along a film path portion lying between them;

means for moving said poker through said dryer chamber to establish a film path extending through said chamber; and

means for rewinding the film back into the magazine prior to removal of its inner end from the magazine.

11. A method of processing a length of exposed film wound on a reel that is rotatably disposed within a film magazine which film has an end secured to the reel, which method comprises the steps of:

unwinding film from the reel; guiding the unwound film out of the magazine along a threading path to a takeup reel; winding the guided film onto the takeup reel; moving the film extending between the magazine and the takeup reel to a loop path through a film processor; moving the film along the film loop path through the proces sor to process the film; and rewinding the film onto the reel in the film magazine prior to removal of its secured end from the magazine.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,58'T, l-28 Dated June 28, 1.9]1

Paul J. Good Inventofls) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 26, after "trolley" insert In the Claims Column 8, line 29 (claim 3), delete "path" and in its place insert magazine Signed and sealed this 21st day of December 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHAIK Attesting Officer Acting Comissioner of Patents FORM ($59) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U 5, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 2 I969 0-355-35 

